Electric waffle iron



May 10, 1938. K RATLlFF 2,116,688

ELECTRIC WAFFLE IRON Filed April 50, 19 s"! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR,

lad Ratlilli May 10, 1938. K, RATLlFF 2,116,688

ELECTRIC WAFFLE IRON Filed April 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

INVENTOR.

M1 alt/1m:

- am WW ATTORNEY! Patented May lfl. 1 938 F Fi c E PATENT.

ELECTRIC WAFFLE IRON Karl Ratliff, Midland, Tex, assignor to Manning, Bowman & (30., Meriden, Conm, a corporation I of Delaware Application April 30, 1937, Serial No. 139,931

12 Claims. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to'electric waflie irons. One objectof the invention is a double electric waffle iron of novel construction whereby two waiiies may be made sim'ultaneoeusly with the facility that single wailles may be made in conventional irons.

A further object is a double iron of superposed grids on which either one or two waflles may be optionally made at a time without overheating the grids at any time. p

A further object of the invention be double electric wafile iron comprising superposed grids forminga compact, rotary reversible unit of novel construction and assembly.

A further object is adouble waffie iron of the above indicated character which is characterized by its simplicity in construction, assembly and operation.

Further objects of the invention willlhereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a wafile iron embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof one side thereof with certain parts shown in section and broken away;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the opposite side with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the grid unit; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one side of the iron showing a modification.

Referrring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a waiiie iron comprising a supporting base plate l, a pair of stand ards 2 and 3 mounted upon and rigidly fastened to the base plate-l, and a multi-part rotary grid unit 6 rotatably mounted by means of trunnions 6 and lil upon the standards 2 and 3 in spaced relation from the base plate I. The standard 2 is forked and formed on its upper end with a bearing support 5 for the trunnion 9 formed as a part of the grid unit a, this bearing support comprising two forks or side upstanding bearing parts 2.

l The standard 3 is similarly provided on its upper end with a bearing support 6 for the opposite trunnion IU of the grid unit, the forks or side members of this hearing support being indicated at 3'. The standard 3 is also provided with a pair of upstanding supports 1, being in the particular embodiment shown integral extensions of the forks or side parts 3', for a purpose hereincars, which are fastened to the periphery of the suitable manner, asfor example by welding them mating separable parts i l and I2 resting on the bearing support 5.

The grid unit assembly comprises the three grid members l3, I4 and [5. The central grid member I5 is formed rigidly as a part of the trunnion H], a fastening bracket l6 being utilized for fastening the trunnion to the central mem-, ber I5. This bracket is a U-shaped sheet metal member having its main plate fastened in any suitable manner, as by soldering or welding, to the trunnion l and its leg members I6 are provided with attaching feet I l which are fastened to the periphery of the central member IS in any suitable manner, as by screws or riveting. Each of the grid members l3 and I4 is pivotally attached to the central grid l and the trunnion l0 and in the particular embodiment shown they are pivotally attached to the bracket It. For this purpose each grid member l3 and M is provided with a bracket 2|], the latter being formed cars 22 formed at right angles to the curved plate 2| and attaching feet 23 turned from the grid member in any suitable manner. The brackets 26 are pivotally mounted between the legs l6 of the brackets H for pivotal movements about the pivotal connections formed between the cars 22 and the legs it of the bracket l6. Thus each of the members it and I l, when uppermost, may be lifted to a position wherein the grid member rests upon the spaced supports 1, the grid member being thereby supported in the open position as indicated in Fig. 4, and the grid unit also thereby being held against rotation,

The trunnion part H is formed rigidlyas a part of the grid member l3, while the trunnion mating part I2 is formed rigidly as a part of the other outer grid member l4. Each of the trunnion parts ll and I2 is fastened to its corresponding grid member by means of a sheet metal bracket 26, comprising a curved plate 21 having a pair of side plates 28 formed therefrom, and on the side plates 28 are formed attaching feet 29 for suitably fastening the bracket to the periphery of the grid member. The trunnion parts I! and I2 are fastened to the brackets 26 in any to the inner ends of the curved plates 21. The brackets 26 extend toward each other to meet at the dividing line 36 of the separable trunnion parts H and I2, and in the embodiment shown the side plates 28 of brackets 26 closely approach suitable complementary handles II' and I2v respectively, whereby the outer grid element I3, I4, which may at the time be uppermost, may be lifted to the open, position indicated in Fig. 4, these handle parts II' and I2 preferably being of insulated material or insulatedly carried by the grid elements.

Each of the grid members I3, I4 and I5 is provided with electric heater elements, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5, and these elements are all supplied by current through connections passing-through the trunnion III. In the particular embodiment shown, the trunnion I0 is provided with plug terminals 35 for the reception of a plug socket of conventional form. The

electric heater elements of the members I3, I4 and I 5 may be either connected in series or multiple as may be desired in practice.

In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the trunnion I0, through which pass the electrical connections and which carries the plug terminals 35 and is formed rigidly with the central grid member I5, is extended be 0nd the standard 3, and a limiting pin and in the particular embodiment shown the stop means 31 is in the form of an elongated piece traversing the width of the standard and having a portion cut out at the central portion to clear the extension of the trunnion. This means for 35 limiting the range of rotarymovement prevents the undue twisting of a flexible cord leading heating current to the device.

The grid members I3 and. I4 are provided with grid surfaces on their inner sides depending 40 upon the heating, baking or frying surface desired, as for example the conventional wailie iron grid, and the central grid element I5 is also provided with similar grid surfaces on both sides, and the grid in detail is shown in-Fig. 4. One of the trunnions is preferably provided with flat surfaces on.the opposite sides thereof for the purpose of steadying the gridunember unit in the cooking and baking position. For example, in the particular embodiment shown the mating parts II and I2 are provided with the flat outer surfaces 4I and the bottom of the bearing support 5 is provided with a complementary fiat surface 42 for assisting in this steadying operation. I

In operation the device is connected with any suitable supply of electrical current through the plug connections 35 and after the grids are heated to the desired extent the grid element I3, I4 which happens to be uppermost is lifted and batter is poured upon the exposed grid surface of the central element I5. The lifted grid element is then lowered into operative position and the grid member unit is then rotated through 180 by engaging the handle II, I2. The then uppermost grid element is lifted up and, if desired,

05 the batter or other food product is placed upon the exposed surface 40 of the central element I5, whereupon the lifted grid element is lowered into position. If it is desired to make only one waiiie or the like at a time, the last named lifted grid may be permitted to rest in the Open. position upon the anchoring supports 1 which assist in preventing rotary movement, notwithstanding the lifted position of the grid, and this promotes dissipation of heat from the exposed grid surfaces which are not in use. The electric heater --2,11e,osa

the periphery of the. central grid member us.- The trunnion parts II and I2 are provided with elements of all three grid members may, therefore, be kept in circuit notwithstanding one side of the heater is not being used, thereby simplifying the electrical connections and control.

The invention renders possible a construction wherein the uppermost grid member is supported by the bracket IS on one side and'through the brackets 26 on the other side so that the grid surface 40 of the intermediate member I5 does not bear the weight of the uppermost grid member. For example, if the spacing between the grid surfaces 40 of the upper and lower members is slightly greater than the depth of the intermediate element I5 with the brackets 26 and mating trun-- a base support-having a pair of spaced bearings thereon, and a rotary multipart grid unit having trunnions supported in said bearings and including a central grid having heating surfaces on both sidesthereof and being formed rigidly with one jof said trunnions, a pair of complementary parts pivoted to said central member at points adjacent said last named trunnion, said complementary parts having mating trunnion parts forming the other trunnion, and electrical connections leading through said trunnion which is formed rigid with the central grid.

2. A double electric waiiie iron comprising a base support and a three part superposed grid unit having trunnions mounted for rotation above the support for reversing the position of the unit, the central grid part having onetrunnion formed rigidly therewith and the outer grid parts being pivotally fastened to the central grid part and carrying complementary elements forming the other trunnion.

,3. In a waiile'iron of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the bearing supports is provided with a pair of rests engaged by a complementary grid element when lifted to the open position.

.4. In a waffle iron of the character set forth in claim 1 ,wherein the complementary trunnion parts'are provided with mating handle parts for lifting the complementary grid elements and rotating the unit.

5. In an electric double waiile iron, a base, a

pair of standards rigidly fastened to and carried l i by said base, each of said standards being provided with a forked upper end forming a support1ng bearing surface, and a multi-part grid unit having trunnions resting in said bearing supports and comprising a central double faced grid element formed rigidly with one of said trunnions and a pair of complementary grid elements pivotally fastened to the opposite sides ofv said central element at points adjacent said trunnion, said complementary grid elements having brackets at their free sides, said brackets being ing electrical connections passing therethrough, and carrying means whereby electrical connection may be readily madefor supplying heating current to the device.

6. In a waflle iron of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the forks of one of said standards are extended up to form a pair of supports for arresting the pivotal movement of a lifted grid element, supporting the same and preventing rotation of the unit.

7. In a wafiie iron of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the central grid element is attached to the trunnion'formed therewith by means of a U-shaped bracket and the comple mentary grid elements are provided with brackets pivotally mounted upon said first named bracket. 7

8. In a waille iron of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the central grid element is attached to the trunnion formed therewith by means of a U-shaped bracket and the complementary grid elements are provided with brackets pivotally mounted upon said first named bracket and fastened to one side to the grid elements, and brackets on the other side fastened to the complementary parts forming the trunnion.

9. In a waifle iron of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said trunnions is provided with fiat surfaces on the upper and lower sides thereof. v

10. In a waiiie iron of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein means are provided forlimiting the range of rotary movement to 180.

11. In a waflie iron of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein said first named trunnion is provided with a radially disposed pin, and stops are disposed in the path of said pin at points 180 apart.

12. In a waflie iron of the character set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said trunnions is provided with flat surfaces on the upper and lower sides thereof and the bottom of the bearing support is provided with a corresponding flat surface.

KARL RA'ILIFF. 

